Ranking the 8 Best Big Men in College Basketball

As Anthony Davis reminded everyone last season, a dominating star on the low block can be an express route to the national championship. Davis is gone to the NBA, but there are plenty of talented players left at the college level to vie for his spot as the country's best post presence.

One of the most impressive in that group is Davis’ opponent from the national title game: Kansas center Jeff Withey. The shot-blocking specialist is poised to keep the Jayhawks’ D among the country’s best during his senior year in Lawrence.

Read on for more on Withey and the rest of an elite eight of the best centers and power forwards in the college game for 2012-13.

8. Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota

For a player coming off a season-ending ACL injury, Trevor Mbakwe has an unbelievable upside. The last time the Golden Gopher star played a full season, he led the Big Ten with 10.5 rebounds per game.

Mbakwe is also a valuable offensive weapon who scored 13.9 points a night in that same 2010-11 campaign. He’s at his best when he can get to the rim, where his strength and leaping ability make him one of the country’s most explosive dunkers.

7. Gorgui Dieng, Louisville

The core of the matchup zone that carried Louisville to the Final Four, Gorgui Dieng is a shot-blocker above all else. His 3.2 rejections per game placed him eighth in the nation a season ago.

The 6’10” Dieng is also a terrific rebounder who grabbed 9.1 boards per contest. He’s still pretty raw offensively, but he came up with enough put-backs and fast-break finishes to score 9.1 points a game.

3. James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina

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If he hadn’t been buried on the bench as a freshman, James Michael McAdoo would be in the NBA by now. Even in just 15.6 minutes a night, he left little doubt as to his sensational athletic ability or his pro credentials.

McAdoo is a 6’9” PF who will fit perfectly in North Carolina’s light-speed fast-break offense. His leaping ability and length also make him a serious factor as a rebounder, and at 230 lbs, he won’t be easily pushed around in the paint.